The Role of Health Plans in Advancing Health Equity
In this episode we are joined by Pat Geraghty, President and CEO, GuideWell and Florida Blue and Dr. Kelli Tice, Vice President Medical Affairs, Chief Health Equity Officer at GuideWell. Our conversation explored how GuideWell responded to the pandemic and talked about the specific ways that health plans can engage in advancing health equity. Our guests were candid about the hard work that is required and the importance of health plans working closely with community stakeholders to understand the needs of the communities where their members live and work. As much as has been achieved, there remains more to do and both Pat and Dr. Tice share their deep commitment and passion for this work.
Listen Now
About Our Guests
Patrick J. Geraghty
President and Chief Executive Officer, GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation
Pat Geraghty is President and Chief Executive Officer of GuideWell, a $26 billion mutual insurance holding company headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla. A mission-driven health solutions enterprise, GuideWell is the parent to a family of forward-thinking companies focused on transforming health care.
GuideWell comprises Florida Blue, Florida’s Blue Cross Blue Shield plan and leading health insurance company in Florida; Triple-S Management, Puerto Rico’s Blue Cross Blue Shield plan and leading health care services company in Puerto Rico; GuideWell Health, a portfolio of clinical delivery organizations; GuideWell Venture Group, a portfolio of companies, including PopHealthCare, focused on creating human-first and innovative health solutions for health plans; GuideWell Source, a provider of administrative services to state and federal health care programs; and WebTPA, a market leading administrator of self-funded employer health plans. GuideWell serves more than 46 million people across 45 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including more than 6 million individuals in Florida.
Geraghty was the architect of the strategic restructuring that created GuideWell from the foundation of a more than 75-year-old health insurance company, transforming it into a health solutions organization at the forefront of reimagining the future of health in America. The GuideWell restructuring is considered a model of strategic reinvention and is featured as a capstone business case in the curriculum of Harvard Business School.
A dynamic speaker, Geraghty is considered an expert voice on a range of health care topics including health care reform in the U.S., next-generation payment strategies, innovation in health care and the benefits of wellness and prevention programming.
He has appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” “Fox Business News,” CNBC’s “Closing Bell,” The Wall Street Journal’s “Money Beat,” “PBS Nightly Business Report,” MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and Bloomberg TV’s “Street Smart” and “Capitol Gains” programs. Geraghty also has been featured on the front page of The New York Times’ Business Day, in The Wall Street Journal, and in many other media outlets.
In addition to serving as an expert source to leading news media, Geraghty is frequently sought after for his insights on important health care policy matters in Washington, D.C. and Tallahassee, Fla.
Geraghty is active in leading professional and community organizations. He is a member and past chair of the Florida Council of 100, a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization of Florida business leaders who advise the state’s governor on how to improve the economic growth of the state and the economic well-being of its residents.
He also serves as a member of the board of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, including chair of its Health Policy & Advocacy Committee (HPAC), National Institute of Health Care Management (NIHCM), a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of America’s health care system; America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP); and Tampa Electric Co. (TECO).
His work with United Way, MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation and the American Cancer Society are among his most important commitments outside his board engagements.
Geraghty holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colgate University and a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, degree from Florida Southern College. He also has completed executive education programs at Harvard University School of Public Health and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Kelli Tice, MD
Vice President, Medical Affairs and Chief Health Equity Officer
Kelli Tice, MD, is a family physician with a background in public health who serves as GuideWell and Florida Blue’s Vice President, Medical Affairs and Chief Health Equity Officer. In this role, which she assumed in January 2022, Dr. Tice is responsible for creating solutions that improve health outcomes and address health inequities for GuideWell’s customers and communities.
In addition to leading the company’s health equity strategy, she has responsibilities in the areas of corporate social responsibility and public health surveillance. Dr. Tice is also the clinical lead for Florida Blue’s COVID-19 response. Additionally, Dr. Tice is a key member of the Equity Alliance, an enterprise-wide initiative focused on addressing systemic racism and health disparities for Black Americans. Prior to her current role, she served as Senior Medical Director for Medical Affairs.
Early in her medical training, Dr. Tice became interested in addressing health disparities and delivering culturally competent care. Dr. Tice taught cultural competency for physicians, and incorporated evidence-based techniques to promote health equity into primary care practice in both private and public clinical settings. She is passionate about health education and she enjoys mentoring and community involvement.
Before joining GuideWell and Florida Blue in 2018, she spent 17 years as a public health physician, serving in numerous leadership roles including that of County Health Officer and State Medical Director for the Florida Department of Health.
Dr. Tice is a member of the Florida Academy of Family Physicians and currently serves as the President of Northeast Florida Medical Society. She received her bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University, her medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine and completed her residency at St. Vincent’s Family Practice Residency Program.
